No one had doubted Jess's courage, even when we 

 saw her come back alone : we knew there was some- 

 thing wrong, but in spite of every care and effort 

 we could not find out what it was, and poor old Jess 

 went through the night in suffering, making no 

 sound, but moving from place to place weary and 

 restless, giving long tired quivering sighs, and pawing 

 at her mouth from time to time. In the morning light 

 we again looked her all over carefully, and especially 

 opened her mouth and examined that and her nostrils, 

 but could find nothing to show what was wrong. 



The puzzle was solved by accident : Ted was sitting 

 on the ground when she came up to him, looking 

 wistfully into his face again with one of the mute 

 appeals for help. 



" What is it, Jess, old girl ? " he said, and reaching 

 out, he caught her head in both hands and drew her 

 towards him ; but with a sharp exclamation he instantly 

 257 R 



